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1981 SMU Mustangs football
1981 SMU Mustangs football
Co-national champion (NCF); SWC champion
Conference	Southwest Conference
Ranking
AP	No. 5
Record	10–1 (7–1 SWC)
Head coach	Ron Meyer (6th season);
Offensive scheme	Option
Defensive coordinator	Steve Sidwell (6th season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Texas Stadium
	Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

1981 Southwest Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 5 SMU $	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	1	–	0
No. 2 Texas	6	–	1	–	1	10	–	1	–	1
Houston	5	–	2	–	1	7	–	4	–	1
Arkansas	5	–	3	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Texas A&M	4	–	4	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Rice	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Baylor	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
TCU	1	–	6	–	1	2	–	7	–	2
Texas Tech	0	–	7	–	1	1	–	9	–	1

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Ron Meyer in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 10–1 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the SWC title.

The Mustangs had been put on probation by the NCAA for recruiting violations and were banned from participating in any bowl game in 1981. Since SMU's performance would have given them an automatic berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic, the team decided to treat its final regular season game at Arkansas as their bowl game and nicknamed it the "Polyester Bowl". SMU defeated the Razorbacks 32–18.

SMU finished at No. 5 in the final AP Poll. Because its rules prevent schools under probation from being considered, the Mustangs were not ranked in the Coaches Poll at all during the season. At season's end, the Mustangs were recognized as one of five co-national champions by the National Championship Foundation (NCF).^[1]^{: 112–114}

The team's offense scored 365 points while the defense allowed 137 points.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	Texas–Arlington*		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 48–0	20,130	^[2]
September 12	North Texas State*		Texas Stadium Irving, TX (rivalry)	W 34–7	20,400	^[3]
September 19	Grambling State*		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 59–27	45,700	^[4]
September 26	at TCU	No. 20	Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX (rivalry)	W 20–9	25,862	^[5]
October 10	Baylor	No. 14	Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 37–20	33,110	^[6]
October 17	at Houston	No. 10	Houston Astrodome Houston, TX (rivalry)	W 38–22	36,892	^[7]
October 24	No. 10 Texas	No. 8	Texas Stadium Irving, TX	L 7–9	62,777	^[8]
October 31	at Texas A&M	No. 13	Kyle Field College Station, TX	W 27–7	62,646	^[9]
November 7	Rice	No. 10	Texas Stadium Irving, TX (rivalry)	W 33–12	28,750	^[10]
November 14	Texas Tech	No. 8	Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 30–6	24,410	^[11]
November 21	at No. 16 Arkansas	No. 6	Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	W 32–18	43,842	^[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[13]

Roster

1981 SMU Mustangs football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`19`	Eric Dickerson	Jr
FB	`28`	Charles Drayton	Jr
OL	`77`	Perry Hartnett	Sr
RB	`32`	Craig James	Jr
QB	`11`	Lance McIlhenny	So

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DL	`75`	Harvey Armstrong	Sr
DT	`74`	Michael Carter	Jr
DL	`99`	Eric Ferguson	Sr
DL		Jerry Kovar	Jr
DB	`20`	James Mobley	Sr
DB	`29`	Russell Carter	So

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`1`	Eddie Garcia	Jr

Head coach

Ron Meyer

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

^[14]

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	—	—	—	20	15	14	10	8	13	10	8	6	6	5	5

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Perry Hartnett	Tackle	5	116	Chicago Bears
Harvey Armstrong	Defensive tackle	7	190	Philadelphia Eagles
Eddie Garcia	Kicker	10	264	Green Bay Packers

^[15]

References

^ 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ "Mustangs mash Mavericks". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 6, 1981. p. B1. Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU runners slash NT, 34–7". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 13, 1981. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mustangs rally past Grambling, 59–27". Longview News-Journal. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mustangs stay unbeaten by whipping TCU 20–9". Winston-Salem Journal. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU tramples Baylor, 37–20". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU rolls past Coogs, 38–22". The Victoria Advocate. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "UT bounces back with defense". Austin American-Statesman. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU handles A&M, 27–7". Austin American-Statesman. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU corrals Rice, 33–12". The Tyler Courier-Times. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU eases by Texas Tech". The Galveston Daily News. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU belts Arkansas, rules SWC". St. Petersburg Times. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1981 SMU Mustangs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
^ "1981 SMU Mustangs Roster". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
^ "1982 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2015.